Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

 

 

What Is American Sex? 

This award-winning podcast is dedicated to changing America’s dysfunctional relationship with sex. Our sex lives are influenced by everything that makes us US--from our mental health to our relationships, politics, identity, and the shame our culture instills in us and relies on for control. Understanding how these things seep into our bedrooms makes all the kinky, pervy, weird stuff we’re secretly into seem not so weird after all. 

Hosts, Sunny Megatron & Ken Melvoin-Berg, are acclaimed Sex & BDSM Educators. They also co-created the groundbreaking Showtime Original Series, Sex with Sunny Megatron. Equal parts hilarious and informative, Sunny, Ken & their guests serve up real-talk about kink, polyamory, sexual ethics, and LGBTQIA+ subjects. From practical BDSM & sex tips to discussions about systematic repression of pleasure & sexual empowerment, each topic is approached with a lightheartedness that’s second to none. 

We believe Kink is Cutomizable™, education is the new punk rock, the personal is political, tinkle-your-pants laughter is an anecdote to sexual shame, and that collectively we can subvert this backward-ass system by finding power in our pleasure.  

Visit americansexpodcast.com & sunnymegatron.com for more. 

New Episodes every Monday.

Stream all episodes below!

About the Hosts

Superheroes of sex ed, Ken Melvoin-Berg & Sunny Megatron are partners in every sense of the word. In addition to co-producing Showtime’s “Sex with Sunny Megatron,” they initially gained recognition writing and teaching about everyone’s favorite subject, SEX. In their sell-out workshops, their unique brand of “edutainment” plus combined 30+ years of sexuality teaching experience puts students at ease. 


They host the AASECT Award winning American Sex Podcast and Sunny’s first book, Customizable Kink: A Strategic Guide to Erotic Play will be released in 2022. A Certified Sex Educator and Relationship Coach, Sunny was also awarded XBIZ 2021 Sexpert of the Year. On a more personal note, this dynamic duo are married, parents, ethically non-monogamous, and lifestyle BDSM enthusiasts.
 

Listen to the American Sex Audio Trailer
Subscribe to American Sex with Sunny Megatron & Ken Melvoin-Berg and never miss an episode! Click the Android or iTunes buttons here or search for American Sex on your favorite podcast player.   
Subscribe on Android
 
 

 

We also hold a giveaway every month for American Sex fans. Be sure to tune in or check Sunny's website for the current monthly giveaway. 

  
   

 

  1. All Episodes
  2. The BDSM Test w/ Midori & Joe Zarate-Sanderlin - Ep 192

The BDSM Test w/ Midori & Joe Zarate-Sanderlin - Ep 192

Jun 27, 2022

“The BDSM Test” is infamous in the kink community and beyond. Since 2014, thousands have proudly posted results like a badge of honor on FetLife profiles. We use it as a roadmap, educational tool, and kink negotiation starter. It’s even gone vanilla as the focus of social media challenges and pop magazine writeups.

But is this kink subculture phenomenon all it's cracked up to be? While some find it helpful & validating, many say it’s othering, stigmatizing, and normalizes red-flag behavior disguised as “kink.”

Midori & kinky therapist Joe Zarate-Sanderlin join us on ep 192 to deconstruct the BDSM test question by question + explore its wider impact. Why don't we scrutinize it the same way vet other educational sources? Who wrote this kink test, why, and what are they using the massive amount of data they’re collecting about our deviant desires for? Turns out, it’s a bit of a mystery…

 

Midori Bio

“Your Fairy God-Auntie of Kink. Exploding Expectations. Challenging Conventions.”

Trailblazing educator, sexologist, artist, and irritant to banality, Midori founded Rope Dojo and ForteFemme: Women’s Dominance Intensive. She penned the first English instruction book on Shibari, “Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage” in 2001, paving the way for the popularity of rope. Dan Savage calls her the “Super Nova of Kink,” while others affectionately call her Auntie Midori for her cool, tell-it-like-it-is, funny, reality-based teaching. She is also the author of “Wild Side Sex,” “Master Han’s Daughter,” and “Silk Threads.”

Education, Coaching, Private Learning & Art: https://planetmidori.com. Special membership perks! Learn, laugh, and enjoy her special online classes, events, and art at www.patreon.com/PlanetMidori  where she is working on her next shibari book!

 

Joe Zarate-Sanderlin Bio

"Joe Zarate-Sanderlin, an Assigned Male at Birth non-binary person (pronouns: they/them/theirs), came of age in the New York City kink scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s and they have connections in the Boston and San Francisco kink communities. They are a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in San Francisco where they specialize in working with gender, sexuality, and relationship diversity. They teach several courses at Golden Gate University and were recognized as an Outstanding Adjunct Professor for 2022. They provide training and consultation regarding Talking to Clients about Sex, Gender in Psychotherapy, Open Relationships, BDSM Relationships, and other topics. In addition to private practice, their clinical experience includes being supervised by Dossie Easton for two and half years plus volunteering at a Catholic school for three years, a continuation high school for one year, and at a low-fee clinic for four years.  They worked for the Burning Man Emergency Services Department for ten years, both in the Nevada desert and in the streets of San Francisco. In their spare time, they ski, coach and referee soccer, brew kombucha, dance to 80s music, and parent elementary-aged old twins."

 

Episode 192 Links

Additional Links

 

Episode 192 Sponsor & Affiliate Discount Codes/Links

*by using our links & codes you can help support our work while saving a few bucks too—win/win!

  • 10% off American Sex Podcast & Sunny Megatron merch with code SUNNY (t-shirts, mugs, phone cases & more) http://bit.ly/sunnyshirts
  • 15% off your order at Lovehoney when you use this link http://bit.ly/lovehoney15 This link can be a little wonky and does not keep tracking cookies. If the discount does not show up in your cart (or disappears after you shop around on the site), access the site with that link again. Your items will still be in your cart & the discount will appear)
  • 15% off everything at Lelo.com with code SUNNY
  • 10% off everything (with minor restrictions) online from woman-owned, feminist, trans & queer-friendly Early To Bed http://bit.ly/sunnyetb with code SUNNY
  • 10% off everything from Fun Factory using this link http://bit.ly/sunnyfunfactory and the code SUNNY at checkout
  • 15% off most items from Stockroom https://bit.ly/sunnystockroom15 with code SUNNY

_______________________________________________________________

–Submit your BDSM & sex advice questions by email to americansexpodcast@gmail.com

–To support American Sex podcast, please visit http://patreon.com/americansex (plus you’ll get all episodes early, secret episodes, bonus stories from guests, on-air shout-outs, stuff in the mail & more!)

–Get friendly with us on Twitter at @AmericanSexPod or visit sunnymegatron.com or americansexpodcast.com

–Join our mailing list by visiting http://sunnymegatron.com/newsletter

Sunny & Ken, xo!